H&M is set to open its first store south of the Equator in a move that may
open the floodgates to a wave of expansion.

The world’s second-largest fashion chain announced that it was to open an
outlet next year in Santiago, Chile.

The southern hemisphere has been difficult for global European groups such as
Inditex and Arcadia because the differences in seasons make it harder to
sell the same products at the same time in both regions.

But H&M is playing catch-up with Zara, owned by Inditex of Spain, and Arcadia
Group’s Topshop.